ETHERLINE® HEAT 6722

Fast cables with fire retardant for buses

Data communication in buses is really on the upsurge. Ticket machines, destination displays and surveillance cameras are just some of the reasons behind the increased volume of data. Ethernet cables are being increasingly used here as a result. A new EU standard came into force on 1 January 2016 and sets high fire protection requirements for cables that are installed in the passenger compartment and in the engine compartment. The Lapp Group has developed a new cable series with a highly fire-resistant sheath for European bus manufacturers and suppliers: the ETHERLINE® HEAT 6722. You can find further information about bus cabling in our white paper.

The new standard ECE-R 118.01 aims to protect passengers in the event of a fire. One of its requirements is the new stricter flame test: In the laboratory, a flame is held on a 50 centimetre long section of cable and removed again after 15 to 30 seconds. The fire on the cable insulation must extinguish itself within 70 seconds and the propagation of the flame must stop at least five centimetres before each of the two ends of the cable section. This is intended to ensure that a flame that sets fire to the sheath will not spread as on a fuse and set on fire other cables and the interior fittings of the bus while passengers may still be inside the vehicle. In addition, fire-fighters have the assurance that the flame on the cable insulation will not continue burning or even re-ignite once the source of the fire has been extinguished.

The developers also succeeded in producing a material that combines the benefits of the two materials PVC and PUR. PVC cables burn slowly in the event of a fire but produce large amounts of smoke and gas. When combined with water, these gases produce acids which burn the airways. These cables therefore should not be used in the passenger compartments on buses. PUR on the other hand is extremely resistant to oil and many chemicals and is also highly resistant to abrasion and movements which are repeated millions of times, for instance in machinery. However, PUR has worse fire properties than PVC.

For the ETHERLINE® HEAT 6722 cable series, the developers managed to use a PUR formulation to produce a material that burns slowly in the event of a fire and also does not produce substances that are damaging to health.

The ETHERLINE® HEAT 6722 cable series also complies with all regulations for use in buses that are used for public transport:

ECE-R 118.01

Delivery specifications MBN LV 112, LV 212, LV 213

ISO 11801 and ISO 16553

EVO 132.40

ISO 6722

ISO 14572

Other features:

Data network cable with halogen-free PUR outer sheath

Extended temperature range up to 105°C

Use for fixed installation and limited flexible use

Cat.5e: Cable design 4x2XAWG24/7 with SF/UTP structure

Cat.6A/ Cat.7: Cable design 4x2xAWG24/7 with S/FTP structure

Further details available on data sheets

Bus manufacturers and suppliers can choose from three variants of the ETHERLINE® HEAT 6722 from us: Cat5e, Cat6A and Cat7.

You can find further information about the new standard ECE-R 118.01 for bus cabling in our white paper. Our experts will be happy to help with any questions you may have: automation(at)lappgroup.com

As well as the ETHERLINE® HEAT 6722, other items from our range have also been successfully tested in accordance with the new standard. Our sales team will be happy to provide you with an overview of the products on request: info(at)lappkabel.de